Focused Shockwave Therapy is a breakthrough treatment in physiotherapy which uses an acoustic form of energy. This new treatment is being used to accelerate and enhance the healing of slow-healing tendon injuries. Clinics in both the United States and Canada use this therapy.
Focused shockwave therapy is a type of physical therapy
Focused shockwave therapy is a type of physical therapy that uses sound waves to treat pain and inflammation. The sound waves are produced by a device called a lithotripter, which produces sound waves from compressed air.focused shockwave therapy is often used to treat painful conditions like plantar fasciitis (heel pain), osteoarthritis, tendinosis, and bursitis.
Focused shockwave therapy is also sometimes used as part of a treatment plan for patients who have failed surgical or nonsurgical treatments for their osteoarthritis.
The focused shockwave device uses an applicator that’s attached to the skin with a sterile antiseptic solution on it. The applicator delivers high-energy acoustic pressure waves into the tissue surrounding damaged cartilage to stimulate new tissue growth.
This process of stimulating new tissue growth is known as chondrogenesis. It works by opening up tiny blood vessels within your damaged joints so that nutrients can get through more easily and help your body heal itself naturally from within your own body’s resources.
The treatment works on soft tissue
Shockwave therapy is the use of pressure waves to treat soft tissue injuries. The concept is based on the theory that certain conditions, such as tendinopathies, can be treated by applying mechanical energy to the affected area. The goal of focused shockwave therapy is to stimulate healing by causing a controlled amount of damage to the tissue to break up scar tissue and initiate a healing response.
Shockwave therapy has been used for decades in veterinary medicine and is now becoming more widely accepted in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, it is effective for treating many different types of musculoskeletal conditions including osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative joint disease (DJD), tendonitis, bursitis inflammation, and synovial effusion. It also is successful in treating lameness due to bone chips or lesions in bone joints such as knees and ankles.
Shockwave uses sound waves generated from an air gun that delivers pressure waves into the injured area with a series of concentric rings. These waves cause small micro fractures within the injured area which initiate a healing response by stimulating blood flow into the area, removing debris, and promoting new collagen formation through fibroblast activity.
